638 NORMAN E. BORLAUG 



Rather we should be visionary and imaginative in our plant breeding 

 programs if we hope to stay ahead of demands for food, feed, wood, and 

 fiber. To accomplish this we must use every new approach that seems 

 feasible, not only to improve the current crop species but also to create 

 entirely new crop or tree species through the use of wide crosses. To 

 illustrate my point, I would like to briefly outline our experiences on 

 Triticale breeding during the past 4 years. 



TRITICALE. THE FIRST MAN-MADE SPECIES THAT SHOWS PROMISE OF BECOMING 

 A MAJOR CEREAL CROP 



Triticales are amphiploid derivatives of a cross between wheat and 

 rye. When such a cross is made, the hybrid seed produced gives rise to 

 a completely sterile plant. If, however, the seedling arising from the 

 hybrid Fi seed is suitably treated with colchicine, the chromosomes of 

 both the wheat and rye components of the hybrid seedling are doubled. 

 This results in a seedling which develops into a partially fertile plant 

 that produces seed. 



Triticales have been known since 1888. However, until about 40 years 

 ago, they were mostly academic curiosities. During the past three decades 

 several scientists, especially Muntzing in Sweden and Sanchez-Monge in 

 Spain, have devoted most of their professional careers to the improvement 

 of this artificial species. In 1964 CIMMYT in collaboration with the 

 University of Manitoba began a breeding program designed to develop 

 Triticale varieties that would be competitive with wheat, barley, rye, 

 and oats. 



Until about 1-1/2 years ago the development of Triticales had been 

 stymied by two main obstacles, partial sterility and shrivelled grain. 

 In April 1967, Drs . Frank J. Zillinsky and George Varughese of our staff 

 discovered 7 F-, plants that were highly fertile. These subsequently 

 have been reselected and resown 5 times under 4 widely different climatic 

 conditions. They have remained highly fertile in all plantings. We also 

 have crossed the fertile types to sterile and partially sterile types and 

 have found that the first generation progeny are fertile, thus indicating 

 that this character is heritable. During the past year we have isolated 

 some types that have far better grain types than those that were previously 

 available. In our program we have also developed dwarf early-maturing, 

 daylength-insensitive lines and some types which are highly resistant to 

 diseases. At the present time we are combining these various desirable 

 characters, through further crossing. I am now completely convinced 

 that Triticale varieties will be developed within the next 8 years that 

 will be competitive, yield-wise, with the best wheat, oats, and barley 

 varieties . 



On the basis of the breakthrough in overcoming sterility, combined 

 h very considerable improvement in grain plumpness, we have now greatly 

 r Triticale breeding program. The progress reported above has 

 been achieved in the hexaploid Triticale types, those derived from 

 crossing Tviticum durum Desf. wheat with rye. We are making many new 

 at this ploidy level involving many different durum wheat 

 and different rye varieties. We are also now making many new 



iticales, derived from crossing bread wheat varieties (T. 

 ill.) with rye. We visualize developing Triticales both as a 

 food and a feed grain. Preliminary research indicates that it should be 



o develop varieties with high levels of both lysine and total 

 protein, which would enhance their value nutritionally (Borlaug, in press). 





